The current state of the economy brought about by many factors including the Covid 19 Pandemic and the recent downgrade to junk status is having an unparalleled effect on the real estate industry in South Africa.

In a downturn, Property Market Values can deviate dramatically from the market “equilibrium” value, a value which can be far lower than market in recessionary times due to strong resistance by the market to dropping values to make the sales.

Urbanisation has been a major watchword of the 21st century, with 55% of the world’s population already living in urban areas and numbers expected to increase to almost 70% by 2050, however, the course of urbanisation is likely to be significantly altered by several forcible disrupters.

Marc Wainer, founder, former Chairman and CEO of Redefine Properties, who started his career working in his parents' grocery and fish shop in Yeoville and went on to build one of the country’s largest and diversified Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listed on the JSE passed away earlier today at the age of 71.

Peter Gent, ex-RMB Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as an independent, non-executive director to the board of directors of commercial property development company, Heartwood Properties, who are listed on the 4AX (4 Africa Exchange).